Dear Church,
I am absolutely disgusted, and you should be too.
In January 2015, Brock Turner was found raping an unconscious victim behind a dumpster in California. Last week, due to his financial ability to hire a top lawyer and Stanford University’s investment in his swimming scores, he received the incredibly low sentence of six months in jail.
Six months.
This is the absolute definition of injustice. His crime called for a maximum of 14 years of imprisonment, but he received six months. The rape victim, whose letter to her attacker has gone viral, is left with a lifelong scar, while her attacker is allowed to go free after six months. Where is the justice in this? Where is the compassion?
Unfortunately, this case is just one outcome of the rape culture we live in, of the deeply misogynistic undertones of our society, and of the priorities that we privilege. Somehow, the judge in this case determined that his life was more important than the life of his victim. And this is a conclusion that both Christians and non-Christians should be able to disavow.
In a political age that thrives off of “us vs. them” mentalities, it is time for the Church to bridge gaps, and stand up against rape culture and blatant sexism. Not every issue needs to be polarizing or divisive; instead, we are called to be peacemakers. What better way to encourage peace than by standing up for the weak, the voiceless, and the defenseless? Let’s not allow political arguments like gay marriage and transgender bathrooms to dilute the truth that transcends human knowledge. Let’s stop boycotting Target, and start fighting for real justice and compassion.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of justice, compassion, and standing up for the defenseless:
“Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.” Psalm 82:3 (HCSB)
“Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.” Psalm 106:3 (NIV)
“The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.” Proverbs 29:7 (NIV)
“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” Leviticus 19:15 (NIV)
“Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)
The issue with the Stanford rape trial holds just as much importance in our society as any other policy issue that Christians have taken on, if not more importance. The truth is that although issues such as gay marriage and transgender laws are disputed even among Christians, the ones with the loudest and most insensitive voices are the ones representing the whole. The Christians who are holding picket signs in front of court buildings and spreading discriminatory hate are diluting the messages of those who are working to build bridges and solve real issues that impact the lives of individuals, all with the Gospel at the forefront.
Christians, we can’t be defined by hate anymore. We need to shift our focus, and show real, unblemished compassion to the people whose voices are being silenced by sexism and corruption. Perhaps focusing on bringing true justice to situations like the Stanford rape trial, on solving issues that affect everyone daily, and working with society instead of always against society, will allow the greatest opportunities to spread the truth of the Gospel.
While we pettily boycott movies and stores whose products and messages we disagree with, there is a girl who has been violated and abused and whose perpetrator is only serving six months.
Six months.
Church, I’m begging you: Shift your focus. Stop arguing with society and with each other. Stop being angry. Show love, compassion, and humility. Abandon pride. Work to bring justice to those who deserve it and to eradicate the rape culture that we participate in daily.
Maybe once we start showing that we care more about the individuals in the world than our personal agendas, people will begin listening to the truth of the Gospel. It is time to get our priorities straight. It is time for the world to know us not for the many policy issues we are against, but by our love and passion for what is good.
